System, device, and method for moisture and texture detection and control in tortilla chip production

A method for production control for production of tortillas and tortilla chips using a production system for moisture and texture detection and control, the method comprising:

• a) controlling a moisture content, wherein the moisture content of a masa is adjusted before masa pieces of the masa enters an oven of a production line;
• b) measuring masa moisture, wherein a production control unit communicates with a masa moisture sensor to measure the moisture content of the masa on a cooker conveyer;
• c) controlling oven, wherein a transit time and a temperature of the oven are adjusted to control baking of the masa pieces;
• and
• d) measuring chip moisture, wherein the production control unit communicates with a chip moisture sensor to measure a moisture content of baked pieces that are emitted from the oven;
• wherein the production system comprises:
• the production line, comprising:
• the oven, which is configured to receive the masa pieces of the masa from a sheeter/cutter, via a sheeter conveyer, such that the masa pieces pass through the oven on an internal conveyer, such that the masa pieces are baked when passing through the oven;
• and
• the production control unit, which is configured to control components of the production line, the production control unit comprising:
• the chip moisture sensor, which is configured to measure a first moisture content of the baked pieces that are emitted from the oven;
• and
• a first laser sensor, which is configured to measure a surface height of the baked pieces that are emitted from the oven, such that the first laser sensor obtains a first continuous sequence of height measurements at a first predetermined measuring rate.